Ecology Report PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL SCHEME J Breheny Works Site, Flordon Road, Creeting St Mary,Suffolk February 2021 REPORT PRODUCED BY: MHE Consulting Ltd Mill House Homersfield Harleston IP20 0ET 01986 788791 07766 771305 [email protected] ARCHITECTS: Nick Comer Wincer Kievenaar Architects Market Place Hadleigh Suffolk IP7 5DN 01473 827992 07900 917567 E:[email protected] Contents Amendment Record REPORT NUMBER: BREHENY/2021/ER/001 This report has been issued and amended as follows: Issue Revision Description Date Signed 1 0 Draft report issued for comment 05/02/21 C. Whiting This report has been prepared in accordance with the instructions of the client for their sole and specific use. Any other persons who use any information contained within do so at their own risk. © MHE Consulting Ltd 2021 Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 BRIEF 1 1.2 SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION 1 2 PLANNING POLICY AND LEGISLATION 2 2.1 INTRODUCTION 2 2.2 PLANNING POLICY 2 2.3 LEGISLATION 3 3 METHODOLOGY 6 3.1 INTRODUCTION 6 3.2 DESK SURVEY 6 3.3 FIELD SURVEY 6 3.4 SURVEY CONSTRAINTS 8 3.5 SURVEYORS 8 3.6 ASSESSMENT 8 4 RESULTS 9 4.1 INTRODUCTION 9 4.2 BASELINE ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS - DESK STUDY 9 4.3 BASELINE ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS – FIELD SURVEY 11 4.4 GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT 14 5 ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS 15 5.1 INTRODUCTION 15 5.2 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 15 5.3 FURTHER SURVEYS REQUIRED 15 5.4 ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS 15 5.5 HABITATS AND VASCULAR PLANTS 16 5.6 AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES 16 5.7 BATS 17 5.8 NESTING BIRDS 19 5.9 OTHER S. 41 LIST HABITATS AND SPECIES 19 5.10 COMPENSATION 20 5.11 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS 20 5.12 ENHANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES 21 5.13 CONCLUSIONS 22 6 REFERENCES 23 Figures Figure 1 Application site location plan Figure 2 Phase 1 habitats plan Figure 3 Ponds location plan Appendices Appendix A1 Photos Appendix A2 EcIA Criteria Appendix A3 Hedgerow specifications Appendix A4 Bird boxes Appendix A5 Bat box Executive Summary MHE Consulting Ltd were instructed to undertake an ecological survey and assessment of a proposed residential development of the J Breheny works site, Flordon Road, Creeting St Mary, Suffolk (TM 09471 55528) where planning approval (Ref: 4188/15) was previously granted (08/04/16) for a hybrid residential (52 units) and commercial (training facility, workshop and car parking) scheme. A new application is to be submitted for a residential scheme (19 units: 14 affordable and 5 open market) within the area previously approved for a training facility, workshop and car parking area. A minor amendment to the approved residential scheme (reduction in units to 51) together with the proposed residential scheme will result in a total of 70 dwellings on site, with 24 affordable units. The site comprises the main depot of the J Breheny civil engineering company and includes numerous workshops, storage buildings, and hard standing areas. A scrub and tree covered embankment exists along and beyond the eastern and southern site boundaries. None of the buildings support evidence of notable nesting birds, though small passerines could potentially nest. Area of scrub and trees along embankments adjacent to the eastern and southern site boundaries provide potential nesting, song perch and foraging habitat for a range of bird species. No bat roosting features, or evidence of roosting bats was found in any of the buildings present on site. The scrub and trees on the embankments adjacent to the site provide moderate suitability as bat commuting and foraging habitat, with habitat also suitable for use by common amphibians (e.g. toads) and reptiles Recommendation are made to avoid and mitigate significant ecological impacts including timing of work and implementation of good working practice. Compensatory habitat creation is outlined to achieve No Net Loss of biodiversity while ecological enhancements are recommended to deliver a Biodiversity Net Gain. Standard planning conditions are recommended to secure the measures proposed. 1 Introduction 1.1 BRIEF MHE Consulting Ltd were instructed to undertake an ecological survey and assessment of a proposed residential development of the J Breheny works site, Flordon Road, Creeting St Mary, Suffolk (TM 09471 55528, Figure 1). Planning approval (Ref: 4188/15) was previously granted (08/04/16) for a hybrid residential (52 units) and commercial (training facility, workshop and car parking) scheme. MHE Consulting Ltd (previously Mill House Ecology) surveyed the site and provided a report1 to support the planning application. A new application is to be submitted for a residential scheme (19 units: 14 affordable and 5 open market) for the approved training facility, workshop and car parking area. A minor amendment to the approved residential scheme (reduction in units to 51) together with the proposed residential scheme will result in a total of 70 dwellings on site, with 24 affordable units. The ecological survey and this report are necessary to: • Identify the existing ecological value of the site; • Identify the need for further (e.g. protected species) surveys; • Assess any potential adverse impacts of the proposed development on ecological features of the site or nearby designated sites; • Make recommendations for mitigation (if required); and • Identify opportunities for biodiversity enhancements and, consistent with national and local planning policy, net gains. This report will be used to develop the proposals as necessary, and to form the basis for the submission of biodiversity information with any planning application. It reflects the sites at the time of the survey and should be reviewed and revised as appropriate. 1.2 SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION The site (Figure 1) comprises the main depot of the J Breheny civil engineering company and includes numerous workshops, storage buildings, and hard standing areas used for the storage of construction material, signage, welfare units etc. (Photos 1 to 6). Photos of habitats present are provided within Appendix A1. 1 Mill House Ecology (2015) Proposed residential development J Breheny Works Site, Flordon Road, Creeting St Mary, Suffolk. Ecological Appraisal October 2015, unpublished client report 1 2 Planning policy and legislation 2.1 INTRODUCTION This chapter summarises the key legislation and policies relevant to assessing the biodiversity impacts of the scheme upon habitats and species. 2.2 PLANNING POLICY 2.2.1 National Planning Policy Framework (NPFF) The National Planning Policy Framework was originally published in 2012 and recently revised in February 2019. The document sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and provides guidance on how these policies are expected to be applied. It provides a framework for, and must be taken account of within, locally prepared plans for housing and other development, and is a material consideration in planning decisions. An overarching objective of the NPPF, which aims to secure net gains, is to contribute to protecting and enhancing the natural, built and historic environment; including making effective use of land, helping to improve biodiversity, using natural resources prudently, minimising waste and pollution, and mitigating and adapting to climate change, including moving to a low carbon economy. The full NPPF is available to view online using the gov.uk website: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm ent_data/file/779764/NPPF_Feb_2019_web.pdf Policies of particular relevance to development and biodiversity include 170, 175, 176 and 177. 170. Planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by: a) protecting and enhancing valued landscapes, sites of biodiversity or geological value and soils (in a manner commensurate with their statutory status or identified quality in the development plan); b) recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside, and the wider benefits from natural capital and ecosystem services – including the economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land, and of trees and woodland; c) maintaining the character of the undeveloped coast, while improving public access to it where appropriate; d) minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures; e) preventing new and existing development from contributing to, being put at unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected by, unacceptable levels of soil, air, water or noise pollution or land instability. Development should, wherever possible, help to improve local environmental conditions such as air and water quality, taking into account relevant information such as river basin management plans; and f) remediating and mitigating despoiled, degraded, derelict, contaminated and unstable land, where appropriate. 2 175. When determining planning applications, local planning authorities should apply the following principles: a) if significant harm to biodiversity resulting from a development cannot be avoided (through locating on an alternative site with less harmful impacts), adequately mitigated, or, as a last resort, compensated for, then planning permission should be refused; b) development on land within or outside a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and which is likely to have an adverse effect on it (either individually or in combination with other developments), should not normally be permitted.